People and Operations Associate

We are looking for a People and Operations Associate to own the processes of the People function at Bactobio, shaping the experience of every person who joins, grows, and thrives with us. You’ll combine advisory with hands-on delivery, ensuring our HR function runs smoothly and our culture scales with care and intention.

Company

Bactobio is a young London-based BioTech company (2020) using AI, genomics, and synthetic biology to culture previously unculturable microbes and screen them for antimicrobials. We regularly discover chemically novel antimicrobials that are effective against some of the biggest infectious diseases in agritech and healthcare, and select diseases to target based on the lack of current, effective solutions and the potential market size.

Our work culture is built around impact, empowerment, and collaboration, and we have managed to attract incredible scientists from world-leading institutions, alongside operational experts. We believe that open and inclusive conversations lead to better solutions. As a result, we have created a unique work environment, where ambitious people enjoy working together to make the world greener and safer.

The company is at an very exciting stage, as we are looking forward to our first product commercialisation in H1 2026, after which we intend to undergo a significant series A raise, and use the funds to expand our current team of 50.

Team

You’ll be part of the Operations team — a close-knit group that manages Bactobio’s daily business operations with a lean structure and a strong ownership mindset. We thrive on collaboration and mutual support, and are not afraid to ask for help when it can lead to better results, and we’re just as quick to offer a hand when someone else needs it. We work as one team with a shared goal: getting things done together, better.

Role

This role keeps Bactobio’s People engine running smoothly and makes sure every team member has a great experience from their first interview to their last day. You’ll be hands-on with all our HR processes — from onboarding and contract changes to all key moments in the employee journey — ensuring everything runs like clockwork. You’ll be the go-to person for all HR-related matters, responsible for evolving our policies, drive engagement initiatives, and build systems that scale as we grow.

You’ll have real autonomy in your day-to-day work, with strong support from our Head of Business Operations, who provides strategic direction and mentorship to help you focus on impact and efficiency and who runs some of the People tasks. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a high-autonomy, fast-paced environment, loves variety, and enjoys turning ideas into action. You’ll have the space to experiment, innovate, and shape how we care for and empower our people — all while being part of a collaborative and trusting team.

This role also functions as a backup to the Office Manager, when they are absent or requires assistance, who is responsible for administrative and practical tasks in the office. This forms c. 10-20% of this role’s time.

Key responsibilities

• Own the People processes end-to-end, serving as the main point of contact for all HR-related matters across the organisation
• Coordinate the full employee lifecycle – from onboarding and development to engagement and offboarding – ensuring every stage reflects our values and delivers a positive employee experience
• Lead recruitment efforts, from drafting job descriptions and managing candidate pipelines to coordinating interviews and ensuring smooth onboarding
• Work with the Finance Manager to oversee payroll and ensure timely, accurate processing
• Advise on HR best practices, engagement, and culture-building strategies
• Handle employee relations with discretion, empathy, and fairness
• Maintain accurate HR systems, documentation, and compliance records
• Design and deliver initiatives that strengthen engagement, wellbeing, and collaboration
• Support and stand-in for the OM in daily operations as needed, including office management, IT coordination, social events and document administration

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• 1-3 years’ experience in HR, People Operations, or a similar role – ideally within a fast-paced startup or SME
• CIPD Level 3+ or equivalent qualification/experience
• Strong understanding of UK employment law, HR compliance, and people processes
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust at all levels
• Proactive, adaptable, and comfortable switching between advisory and hands-on execution
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and data integrity
• Excellent written and verbal English

Benefits

• Competitive starting salary
• The chance to be part of a fun, multicultural, kind, and ambitious impact-driven crowd
• Daily access to leaders and mentors in the business
• Brand new, modern labs in Central London with dedicated office space, large balconies, and 360’ views of the London skyline, where we all spend 4 days per week (1 day working from home)
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Paid maternity leave (12 weeks) and paternity/new parent leave (6 weeks)
• Up to 2 months of fully paid sick leave
• Flexible start and finish times within the company’s core hours to fit your preferences
• 4 weeks of fully paid sabbatical leave after 5 years of service
• Diverse team of colleagues (check out our website to meet us)
• Weekly team activities including board games, sports activities, and socials
• Complimentary snacks, fruits, tea, coffee, soft drinks,...
• Access to 1000s of training courses through Udemy, with an allowance for both personal development and work-related training
• Bike2Work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme offering structured counselling, life and career coaching, legal and financial advice

Joining Bactobio

We move fast, learn constantly, and collaborate closely. Our environment is dynamic and sometimes ambiguous — perfect for someone who enjoys variety and building things from scratch. You’ll need to be comfortable working onsite four days a week in our London office, where most of our collaboration happens face-to-face.

If you’re looking for a role where you can make a visible difference every day and grow as our company grows, we’d love to hear from you!